CORVALLIS, Ore. — It’s easy to grab the showiest flowers on the nursery shelf.
But horticulture experts with Oregon State University Extension Service encourage gardeners to go beyond blooms and choose shrubs with striking foliage to add color, texture and contrast all season long.
Shrubs with bold leaf shapes and non-green foliage — such as gold, gray and variegated leaves — help draw the eye through the garden and add structure between flowering peaks.
Western Oregon shrubs with standout foliage
- ‘Sundance’ Mexican orange (Choisya ternata): Bright golden foliage, white citrus-scented flowers, partial to full sun, well-drained soil, 5–6 feet tall, hardy to Zone 7
- ‘Goshiki’ false holly (Osmanthus heterophyllus): Multicolored evergreen foliage, partial to full sun, regular water, 3–5 feet tall, hardy to Zone 6
- ‘Rose Glow’ variegated Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Rose Glow’): Deep burgundy leaves splashed with pink and cream, full sun to light shade, occasional water, 6 feet tall and wide, hardy to Zone 4
Central Oregon shrubs with standout foliage
- ‘Black Lace’ elderberry (Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’): Purple-black foliage, pink flowers, partial to full sun, average water, 10 feet tall, hardy to Zone 4
- Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium): White flowers, fernlike olive foliage, drought tolerant, full sun, 6 feet tall, hardy to Zone 4
- Dappled willow (Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’): Cream, pink and green variegated foliage, partial to full sun, regular water, 6–10 feet tall, hardy to Zone 4
When to plant
In Western Oregon, shrubs can be planted any time the soil is not frozen. In Central Oregon, wait until April or May.
Learn more
For more information about planting and caring for shrubs, consult these OSU Extension guides:
- Gardening with Oregon Native Plants West of the Cascades
- Selecting native plants for home landscapes in Central Oregon
- Mulching woody ornamentals with organic materials
Previously titled Give the garden a facelift with six shrubs sporting dramatic foliage
